Women victorious in a number of state primaries

Crucial primaries for the 2018 midterm elections were held Tuesday in four states, with all races being closely watched by Democrats and Republicans as they weigh their prospects for victory in November.

Tuesday’s primaries were dominated by several contests that are likely to play key roles in the battle for control of the House of Representatives next year.

Republicans also selected state Sen. Scott Wagner to face Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf in the fall.

Democrat Susan Wild was victorious in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District, defeating Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli, who broke from liberal Democrats by tweeting favorably about President Donald Trump and going against the party on abortion and illegal immigration. Wild will contend with Republican Marty Nothstein, former Lehigh County Commissioner.

Women claimed victories in a number of contested Democratic primaries. Politico reported, “In addition to Wild, Madeleine Dean, a state legislator, and Mary Scanlon, a former school board member, both won their respective primaries for open, heavily Democratic seats in the Philadelphia suburbs.”

Social worker Kara Eastman edged out former Rep. Brad Ashford in the Democratic primary race for the 2nd Congressional District. Democrats had viewed Ashford as a stronger candidate to face Republican Rep. Don Bacon who defeated Ashford in 2016.

Lt. Gov. Brad Little won the GOP nomination to replace retiring three-term Republican Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter. Little was victorious over Rep. Raúl Labrador, who gave up his House seat — in which he had an influential role as a leader of the conservative House Freedom Caucus — to run statewide. Little will face former state Rep. Paulette Jordan in the fall.

Oregon

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, will face Republican state Rep. Knute Buehler in the general election, after Buehler won a 10-candidate primary on Tuesday.